Statistics
/stəˈtɪs.tɪks/noun
The science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.
Did you know?The word 'statistics' originally referred to data relevant to the state, making it a tool of governance and control.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
statistica
“of or pertaining to the state”
18th Century
German
Statistik
“a systematic study of the state”
Early 19th Century
English
statistics
“the science of data related to the state, particularly in governance”
Modern English
English
statistics
“the mathematical science of data collection and analysis”